(USA) Bell has released this image of a full-scale mock-up of its V-280 Valor tiltrotor. The Valor is a third-generation tilt-rotor concept being developed by Bell Helicopter and Lockheed Martin for the United States Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. FVL is meant to develop a replacement for the Army's UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook, and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters.
The V-280 will have a composite fuselage made by Spirit AeroSystems, a large-cell carbon-core wing, fly-by-wire controls and a V-shaped tail. It also incorporates lessons the company learned from its V-22 Osprey tiltrotor which Bell produced in partnership with Boeing. The V-22 is used by the US Marine Corps and US Air Force and has completed nearly 200,000 flight hours. However, unlike the V-22, the V-280's engines do not rotate. Rather, only the rotor system tilts.
The V-280 is reported to be designed for a cruising speed of 280 knots (320 mph; 520 km/h), a top speed of 300 knots (350 mph; 560 km/h), a range of 2,100 nautical miles (2,400 mi; 3,900 km), and an effective combat range of 500 to 800 nmi (580 to 920 mi; 930 to 1,500 km).
I just wonder when the Chinese will get round to stealing the plans.
Update
Managed to find this film clip of the mock up..enjoy.
The V-280 will have a composite fuselage made by Spirit AeroSystems, a large-cell carbon-core wing, fly-by-wire controls and a V-shaped tail. It also incorporates lessons the company learned from its V-22 Osprey tiltrotor which Bell produced in partnership with Boeing. The V-22 is used by the US Marine Corps and US Air Force and has completed nearly 200,000 flight hours. However, unlike the V-22, the V-280's engines do not rotate. Rather, only the rotor system tilts.
The V-280 is reported to be designed for a cruising speed of 280 knots (320 mph; 520 km/h), a top speed of 300 knots (350 mph; 560 km/h), a range of 2,100 nautical miles (2,400 mi; 3,900 km), and an effective combat range of 500 to 800 nmi (580 to 920 mi; 930 to 1,500 km).
I just wonder when the Chinese will get round to stealing the plans.
